Ben Roethlisberger Sends Warning To Steelers' Aaron Rodgers: "That Can Be Tough"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have finally put to rest any rumors about the quarterback position entering the final stages of the NFL's 2025 offseason. Aaron Rodgers will finally be looked at as the team's under-contract starter. It took a little while to get to that point, but regardless, the four-time MVP will be under center for the organization. The offense should look a bit more dynamic, despite the veteran being 41 years old. It will be interesting to see how much freedom he has in a system that seemed to restrict Russell Wilson towards the end of the 2024 campaign.

One would expect Rodgers, potentially the most creative quarterback of all time, to have the ability to change plays at the line of scrimmage, and run the two-minute drill. That wasn't exactly the case a season ago. On the most recent episode of the Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger podcast, legendary Steelers signal-caller, Ben Roethlisberger, detailed why there could be some friction given Rodgers' veteran status and how Pittsburgh has operated recently.

"I heard last year that Arthur Smith called the two minutes [drill]," Roethlisberger said. "Even with Russell Wilson, it was Arthur Smith calling the play. That can be tough for a veteran quarterback because you feel the rhythm. You feel the game. You want to call the plays, but you have to be familiar with the system to do that, so I'm guessing there's definitely something there with Aaron. More like, 'Hey, what's our two-minute going to look like? What's our no-huddle going to look like?"

It has seemed as if the Steelers' coaching staff, including Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and Head Coach Mike Tomlin, has not trusted a single quarterback since the retirement of Roethlisberger. Wilson is a borderline Hall of Famer, and was still held back. Pittsburgh focuses on taking care of the ball and is very risk-averse, but Rodgers is one of the best of all time at taking care of the football.

It would be a massive mistake for the Steelers to disallow Rodgers from making quick decisions at the line of scrimmage. The offense as a whole got better when Rodgers agreed to sign, and now it can be taken to a new level if the most experienced player on the field has the opportunity to confuse opposing defenses. The hope is that Pittsburgh's decision-makers acknowledge this, and allow it to happen.

Rodgers and the Steelers' brass had a long meeting back in March, and it is likely that the group discussed this kind of topic. Rodgers isn't a player who wants to be held back at this point in his career. He will certainly run the offense as it is called, but will want the freedom to change things up depending on what look the defense is giving him.

There are a few egos involved, but the goal is to win. All parties that handle the offense should be willing to make some concessions in order to work towards the end goal of a playoff run. It will be important for everyone to be on the same page as the regular season ramps up. This is why it is so crucial that Rodgers decided to sign before, and participate in, mandatory minicamp. This will begin a rapport-building process that is essential for success at the NFL level.

Steelers Have The Opportunity To Have Best Offense In Years

Pittsburgh has weapons on the offensive end, and now one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL has been thrown into the mix. While Rodgers isn't what he used to be, the unit could absolutely put up more points than in recent years. The defense should do enough to hold off opposing offenses, so if all are in unison on the offensive end, it could be a rather exciting season for the fan base.

Do you think that Rodgers will have a lot of freedom within the Steelers' offense? Let us know in the comments below!

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